The Reese family of Windsor, Calif., has collectively lost about 103 pounds since mid-January, and they've cut their food budget in half.

They used to spend about $500 a week on food, including groceries, dining out and takeout. Now they're spending less than $200 a week, mainly because they're cooking most of their meals at home. They have decided to use the money they saved to join a family-oriented gym.

"Over the last three months, we have pulled together as a family and have simply cut out all of our bad habits, for the most part," says Jackie, 41. "Our eating has changed, and our activity has changed."

The family also includes her husband, Kenny Reese, 48; their son, Landon, 10; and her mother, Ina McElroy, 69.

The Reeses and five other families have been participating in USA TODAY's Family Fitness Challenge — an initiative to help people across the country get more active and lose weight. The project is being produced in partnership with USA WEEKEND Magazine and The Doctors TV show. The families were paired with a fitness expert from the American College of Sports Medicine and a registered dietitian from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The Reeses' journey to fitness will be showcased on The Doctors on Wednesday.

Jackie says this journey has made her re-examine her relationship with food.

"Food and weight have been a huge shield, protection and comforter from the sexual abuse I experienced as a child. Since then, I have felt safer as a heavy person. I have finally, after 20 years, decided that it is time to stop hiding."

The Family Fitness Challenge features six families aiming to make lifestyle changes.(Photo: USA TODAY)

Jackie offers her assessment of the family's accomplishments:

Biggest loser: "I am the biggest loser. I have lost 43 pounds so far, dropping from 263 to 220. Kenny was not far behind with a loss of 32 pounds. Landon dropped 16 pounds, and Ina, 12."

Best overall health improvement: "Fitness. We are working on getting a fitness activity into each day. Between taking walks around our neighborhood and going to the gym, we are finding ways to do it together."

Biggest fitness accomplishment: "We have each taken at least three minutes off of our times for walking a mile. We took the money we were saving on food and put it toward a gym membership that we never felt we could afford. We can all go swimming together, play basketball and might even start taking tennis and racquetball lessons there. Landon loves the time that we are spending together and having more time to chat with us on our walks and at the gym."

Biggest diet change: "We have family sit-down meals every night. We used to eat whenever we got hungry, and dinners were cobbled together or were bought on the run. Now, with my mom's help, we are planning menus and eating at home every night."

How they save money on food: "We used to have to buy two packages of meat for dinner, when in reality, one package is plenty for the four of us. We were eating too much. Just eating appropriate portions saved us money. We drink mainly water or milk, so we are not wasting money on liquids."

Hardest obstacle to overcome: "Mom's smoking. She gave up smoking after 50 years."

Best lesson learned: "I learned that my family looks to me to be the leader of our health. We were all in the slump together. Now we are all in this healthy lifestyle together, and I know that I need to lead by example. For this reason, I challenged myself with my first duathlon (an event that includes running, biking, then running again) in mid-April, which I completed, a 10K in May and a half marathon in August. Plus, I have some cycling events that I will be participating in over the next several months. It is my hope, as I continue to get healthy, that they will continue to follow along."

Best advice for others: "By doing this as a family, you have a built-in support system. We have grown together as a family over the last three months."

How they're going to stick with it: "We will continue charting (journaling) our fitness activity and our food. We will continue to hold each other accountable and encourage each other."

Jackie Reese, 40, is a department applications specialist for the Santa Rosa Fire Department. Standing 5-foot-5, her weight in mid-January was 263 pounds. Her long-term goal is 160 pounds. She says, "Our goal would be having a healthier family at the end of it all." (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)

Ina McElroy, 69, lives with her daughter and son-in-law and does the family cooking. She has had two hip replacements. She stands 5-foot-9 1/2. Her weight in mid-January was 235 pounds. Her long-term goal is 175-180 pounds. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)

Landon Reese, 9, stands 4-foot-9 1/2 inches. His weight in mid-January was 144 pounds. His goal weight for the challenge is 120 pounds. His long-term goal is to run faster. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)

Kate Titus is a certified personal trainer at 24 Hour Fitness in Santa Rosa, Calif., and a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. She is the fitness trainer for the Reeses in the Family Fitness Challenge. (Photo: Handout)

Andrea Giancoli is a registered dietician who is consulting with the Reeses for the Family Fitness Challenge. She says, "Tracking their food and calories has really helped them to stay motivated." (Photo: John Martin-Eatinger)

Kenny Reese weighed 278 pounds by the end of April. "I am more active than I have been in 20 years," he says. "I power-walk several times a week. I do a 1-hour water fitness class two or more times a week that kicks my butt. I am thinking of getting a shirt that says, 'Real men do water fitness.'" (Photo: Martin E. Klimek USA TODAY)

Jackie Reese weighed 220 pounds by the end of April. "Over the last three months, we have pulled together as a family and have simply cut out all of our bad habits for the most part," she says. (Photo: Martin E. Klimek USA TODAY)